‘Data Crunch Lunch’ for Businesses, Inverness

The ‘Data Crunch Lunch’ is being hosted by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and the Scottish Centre of Excellence in Satellite Applications (SoXSA).

It takes place in the #hellodigital Demonstration Centre on Inverness Campus to help businesses in the region benefit from space-derived data.

Speakers at the free event include Jimmy Slaughter, solutions architect with SoXSA, and Dr Jude Eze, quantitative scientist from Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC).

Scotland has seen 71% growth in the space sector since 2010, which now supports 7,200 jobs and generates £2.5bn a year turnover. Further growth is anticipated as more companies across a broad range of sectors make use of space-derived data or services.

The Data Crunch Lunch follows the success of the first DataFest18 Highlands and Islands Fringe event, held at #hellodigital in March. More than 380 people from business, the public sector, academia and community organisations took part in the week-long programme to explore how data and technology can be used to change lives, deliver better services and grow business.

Sessions covered artificial intelligence, latest research, software, and practical examples on how data is being used.

David Oxley, HIE’s director of business and sector development, said:“This was the first time we’ve held a Scottish DataFest18 fringe event in the Highlands and Islands. It was an ideal opportunity to extend the national festival into the region and give more people the chance to take part. It was also very effective in promoting collaboration and innovation across business, the public sector and universities.

“The Data Crunch Lunch is the first in a series of follow up events to maintain momentum on the commercial use and potential of data. Given the tremendous growth in the space sector in recent years, it is the ideal topic for the first event.”